Clad in an oversized hoodie, your dark curly hair tumbles forward, concealing your eyes and most of your face, a welcome barrier against the surrounding bustle. 306Please respect copyright.PENANAOBWjzDUzAy
306Please respect copyright.PENANAWcE0oH7pF9
You navigate the crowded school corridor, the weight of the final year at high school pressing down like the heavy textbooks in your bag.306Please respect copyright.PENANAPZyu0ysSUf
306Please respect copyright.PENANAA00ORebQZa
Each day molds into the next, marked by In-woo's steady stream of demands.306Please respect copyright.PENANAdraDZObyzA
306Please respect copyright.PENANAFRcFpxEAnA
He stands by the lockers, his stance casual yet imposing, his face giving nothing away. He catches your eye with a look that pins you in place.306Please respect copyright.PENANA0ReHvoH3Cc
306Please respect copyright.PENANA1RRhTEzs0O
In-woo: I need you to run some errands, grab my lunch, and don’t forget to pick up my math homework from the printer. Make it quick, okay?306Please respect copyright.PENANAHX8LTBqYEP
306Please respect copyright.PENANANTdWHA3SQu
You nod, resigned. There's no escaping the routine. Every task is an echo of the years spent under his quiet dominance. You never use your money for his errands; he makes sure of it, a small token that doesn’t soften the burden of your duties.306Please respect copyright.PENANAuoppXCVKt5
306Please respect copyright.PENANAIFD13vMYk0
As you walk away, his next words float towards you, as predictable as the setting sun.306Please respect copyright.PENANAOBacXvopT3
306Please respect copyright.PENANAzpBlroWaxl
In-woo: Oh, and check the homework for errors. You know how I like it done.306Please respect copyright.PENANA4ttyzzPKOe
306Please respect copyright.PENANAvC7qyz1evE
The cafeteria is bustling, a cacophony of adolescent energy and the clatter of trays. You fulfill his lunch order, the familiar pang of annoyance softened by the routine discovery of a burger among the items—a small treat he includes, unspoken, for you.
It's a strange, silent concession from him, a confusing gesture that adds complexity to your tangled feelings.306Please respect copyright.PENANAP710kEjSNv
306Please respect copyright.PENANADMBtYp2n1A
Shin-woo: (Why does he bother? Is it guilt... or something else?)306Please respect copyright.PENANAuU9EeH3ixa
306Please respect copyright.PENANA8LvAqJunqn
Back at the lockers, you hand him the neatly stacked papers and the food, his fingers brushing against yours briefly, unintentionally. His expression remains unreadable, his eyes not meeting yours.306Please respect copyright.PENANAX5871cDstn
306Please respect copyright.PENANAGO81WiVTD9
In-woo: Thanks. And remember, I need the project draft by tomorrow.306Please respect copyright.PENANAipHsVrek3G
306Please respect copyright.PENANAio4heOqRWe
You turn away, the frustration simmering inside. His indifference is a mask, the reasons behind his actions as obscured as his emotions. Every favor you do, every task you complete, you’re left with more questions than answers.306Please respect copyright.PENANAU8b7JV5PwC
306Please respect copyright.PENANATXUosmHHP9
Shin-woo: (One day, I won't be doing this anymore.)306Please respect copyright.PENANAaMfiMWmned
306Please respect copyright.PENANAmBAeVOuhMF
But for now, you move to the next class, the taste of the burger bittersweet on your tongue.306Please respect copyright.PENANAZZKjz3MRjV
306Please respect copyright.PENANAPp0kMqBdCQ
[Transition]306Please respect copyright.PENANAH8FRD6uOJI
306Please respect copyright.PENANAwbay4X03pR
You navigate the quieting halls after your last class, anticipating the solitude of your walk home when you spot In-woo near the old, rarely used art room. It's not a surprise—more of a routine encounter.
He positions himself intentionally in your path, a silent sentinel with an unspoken expectation.306Please respect copyright.PENANAX1Mli9idqb
306Please respect copyright.PENANAimU9ZKjVNB
Shin-woo: (So it's this again. Might as well get it over with.)306Please respect copyright.PENANAy7eWpD0TLC
306Please respect copyright.PENANAJdx6X86c91
With no spoken command needed, you walk over, feeling the invisible tug of his presence. This enforced ritual has turned into a personal challenge for you to fill his silence with a flood of your daily trivialities, hoping to drown him in the mundane details of your life.306Please respect copyright.PENANAN6RshDMxpz
306Please respect copyright.PENANAUY7qJu5OSw
Today, you launch into an animated recount of your younger sibling’s latest antics, the words pouring out in a relentless stream.
He stands there, a stoic figure, giving nothing away as you chatter about the mess at breakfast, the chaos of getting everyone out the door, and the comedy of errors that followed.306Please respect copyright.PENANABBVejrk8Ri
306Please respect copyright.PENANAZKxAIamvHF
Shin-woo: (Maybe today’s the day he decides he’s had enough of my ramblings.)306Please respect copyright.PENANAnRupJYR5dT
306Please respect copyright.PENANA5AoZubZRqQ
Your monologue drifts to the more tedious aspects of your day—how you nearly fell asleep in history class, the peculiar smell of the school cafeteria, or the peculiar way your pen keeps leaking.
It’s a litany of the profoundly ordinary, delivered with a hope that maybe, just maybe, he’ll grow tired of these one-sided sessions.306Please respect copyright.PENANAHEbB9twBkK
306Please respect copyright.PENANAxoxPVhcqcw
Despite your efforts, In-woo remains as impassive as ever, his face a mask of indifference. Is he even listening, or are you just background noise to him?306Please respect copyright.PENANA44VeN6YK9C
306Please respect copyright.PENANArD98g0AzyA
Shin-woo: (Does he find this amusing, or is it just another way to exert control?)306Please respect copyright.PENANAMK1AuJRpSI
306Please respect copyright.PENANAzUfaafSaxV
As the corridor empties, leaving echoes in its wake, your stories begin to run dry. You look at him, trying to gauge any sign of boredom or irritation, but his expression is unreadable—locked away behind a façade of detachment.306Please respect copyright.PENANADiS1iup1vd
306Please respect copyright.PENANAKx7te8oslQ
Finally, without a word, In-woo turns and begins to walk away, his departure as silent and enigmatic as his vigil.306Please respect copyright.PENANA2AOI2OYkhL
306Please respect copyright.PENANAHfVe4OTwY0
Shin-woo: (What would he do if I just stopped talking one day?)306Please respect copyright.PENANANdEwsJiALb
306Please respect copyright.PENANAaf6RQBWI0x
You watch him disappear around the corner, the weight of unspoken questions lingering in the air. Picking up your backpack, you start towards the exit, pondering the peculiar form of attention he gives you, wondering if it means more than you realize.306Please respect copyright.PENANAlMIFUIHe3U
306Please respect copyright.PENANAV2L8k6SgZ8
Shin-woo: (Would he still find a reason to keep me around if I no longer played the part?)306Please respect copyright.PENANA948QPiRQl9
306Please respect copyright.PENANAGxOl8Ky0Um
With that thought, you step out into the fading daylight, the mystery of In-woo’s intentions mingling with the crisp evening air.306Please respect copyright.PENANANe6A2eymz6
306Please respect copyright.PENANAhnFn6cb3kB
[Transition]306Please respect copyright.PENANAtRwYUXqflg
306Please respect copyright.PENANA6eYEJQa1Gy
You stride down the school corridor, your thoughts swirling with the conflicting emotions that have haunted you through the years. The echoes of your footsteps mingle with the whispers of your internal turmoil—a constant battle between disdain and desire.306Please respect copyright.PENANALMv4Ixrtqa
306Please respect copyright.PENANAZg7j4VSBOS
Shin-woo: (Why does he have to be like this? Why can't I just hate him?)306Please respect copyright.PENANAlu5hmxrrLn
306Please respect copyright.PENANA0hqYnLPwdK
As you pass by, your eyes catch sight of In-woo in the library, helping a younger student reach a book on a high shelf. His movements are graceful, effortless.
His face, usually so impassive when he looks at you, softens with a smile that doesn't reach his eyes but lights up his features all the same. The sight tugs at something deep within you.306Please respect copyright.PENANAEj6Q5qTvWt
306Please respect copyright.PENANAfY8BcRvjeC
Shin-woo: (Look at him... even when he smiles, it's like he's not really there. But it's enough to make my heart skip, isn't it?)306Please respect copyright.PENANAA3LJlNcQOU
306Please respect copyright.PENANATroCzuVYrW
You lean against the lockers, watching him interact with her—a stark contrast to how he treats you. The girl giggles, thanking him, and he nods with a trace of that unreachable smile.
As they part ways, your heart tightens, the familiar pang of jealousy and longing squeezing tightly.306Please respect copyright.PENANAcNA4fQxvHb
306Please respect copyright.PENANATH8ENECEvH
Shin-woo: (Why her? What does she have that I don’t? It’s not like I want his kindness, but...)306Please respect copyright.PENANAbItP74PssM
306Please respect copyright.PENANAUUm4gN1yKx
The bell rings, pulling you from your reverie, but the image of his gentle smile lingers in your mind. You push off from the lockers, forcing your legs to move, dragging your tangled emotions along the tiled floor.306Please respect copyright.PENANABoRF6zf2uC
306Please respect copyright.PENANAMoTT7sB7bh
Shin-woo: (He's so confusing... so frustrating. I hate how much I pay attention, but I can't stop. It's like being stuck in a loop, always back to square one with him.)306Please respect copyright.PENANAwPdGocJPmi
306Please respect copyright.PENANApdTnwEMW75
As you turn the corner, your eyes inadvertently search for another glimpse of him, a habit you despise yet indulge in every time. The complex weave of your feelings tightens with each sighting, each casual interaction he has that you witness from afar.306Please respect copyright.PENANAqHWbAkokmf
306Please respect copyright.PENANAHX0j14ULkE
Shin-woo: (And every time he's kind, every time he smiles at someone else, it feels like a small betrayal. Why do I even care? Why can't I just turn off these feelings?)306Please respect copyright.PENANAdTZM5BXs4T
306Please respect copyright.PENANAhdINYlO7dL
You head to class, the weight of your unspoken questions and unresolved emotions clouding your mind like a fog that refuses to lift. Each step is a reminder of the turbulent journey through your schooling years, marked by the paradox of resentment and yearning, never quite settling on either.306Please respect copyright.PENANAs2gf2cTB6d
306Please respect copyright.PENANA7tUpDK6ioD
[Transition]306Please respect copyright.PENANA5F0zhjlwwc
306Please respect copyright.PENANAlYxYD1Pr68
Saturday morning unfolds slowly at your home, the air filled with the laughter and occasional squabbles of your younger siblings.
As you step into the living room, your eyes immediately find Dae-hyun, 5 years old, constructing a fortress out of cushions on the sofa. His eyes light up when he sees you, and a grin spreads across his face.306Please respect copyright.PENANASOKqmyxteg
306Please respect copyright.PENANAwL6pDid75h
Dae-hyun: Hyeong! Help me make it bigger!306Please respect copyright.PENANAh08BsYxncV
306Please respect copyright.PENANAwLk2rdTk0D
You can’t help but smile at his enthusiasm, bending down to assist him with his architectural endeavor. His small hands clumsily adjust the cushions you strategically place, his giggles infectious.306Please respect copyright.PENANAwrEmYDmycU
306Please respect copyright.PENANAnVRoDXZk3v
Shin-woo: (He’s always so full of joy. How can he not make my day brighter?)306Please respect copyright.PENANA999XPJ92oo
306Please respect copyright.PENANAGcx4nz0wwS
Next, you find Byung-ho, 6 years old, engrossed in a makeshift game of pirates, his toy sword swishing through the air as he navigates the treacherous carpet seas. He spots you and immediately recruits you as his first mate.306Please respect copyright.PENANAxGSppciyFT
306Please respect copyright.PENANADkTgHTIpF3
Byung-ho: You gotta help me find the treasure, or walk the plank!306Please respect copyright.PENANAnP6uk1EOXx
306Please respect copyright.PENANARz9urvq9Yo
His expression is stern, but the twinkle in his eyes betrays his playful spirit. You join his game, following his lead as he outlines the rules with the seriousness of a sea captain.306Please respect copyright.PENANAbtJ09InfL6
306Please respect copyright.PENANA2PoxUU63iK
Shin-woo: (His imagination is boundless. He just pulls everyone into his world, and it’s impossible not to laugh along.)306Please respect copyright.PENANAoprDICIJA1
306Please respect copyright.PENANArhZdmpiJV3
Meanwhile, Iseul is at the kitchen table, working on her homework but clearly struggling to focus. Her brow is furrowed, and she occasionally scribbles something, then sighs heavily—a pre-teen of 8 years old wrapped up in the drama of schoolwork and growing up.306Please respect copyright.PENANAxMyTycYwCg
306Please respect copyright.PENANAHAE8dSzO26
You approach, leaning over her shoulder to glance at the problem that’s causing her frustration.306Please respect copyright.PENANAU9fwn3YdJb
306Please respect copyright.PENANAiJ1htp7AiN
Shin-woo: Need some help?306Please respect copyright.PENANA28lSAUAgEW
306Please respect copyright.PENANAY69j8Di9SA
Iseul looks up, her expression a mix of relief and stubborn independence.306Please respect copyright.PENANAPJUHSLAT4w
306Please respect copyright.PENANA8P02ZWFq9o
Iseul: Maybe just a little. But I can do most of it myself!306Please respect copyright.PENANAYvm92emL8F
306Please respect copyright.PENANAZmP5cMcdIN
Her tone is a blend of the capricious pre-teen attitude you’re starting to see more often, but her eyes are grateful that you’re there to help.306Please respect copyright.PENANAMqr0QjYHU7
306Please respect copyright.PENANApQ3KLMb3WG
Shin-woo: (She’s at that tricky age, trying to be big but still needing her big brother.)306Please respect copyright.PENANAzvxwFlW00e
306Please respect copyright.PENANArpsVgpRgOZ
As you sit down to guide her through the math problem, explaining the steps with patient gestures, Dae-hyun clambers into your lap, snuggling close. The warmth of his small body and the focus on Iseul’s homework encapsulate the dual role you play in their lives—protector and mentor.306Please respect copyright.PENANAwMEF7Osmnr
306Please respect copyright.PENANAgrRnj32hND
Byung-ho’s victorious shout as he ‘finds’ his treasure fills the room, blending with Iseul’s relieved “Ah, I get it now!” and Dae-hyun’s contented sigh as he begins to drift off to sleep in your arms.306Please respect copyright.PENANAbTx9U6AN8s
306Please respect copyright.PENANAqP90htnLtT
Shin-woo: (This is home. This is what keeps me grounded amidst everything else.)306Please respect copyright.PENANAfXD8JZ95L4
306Please respect copyright.PENANA28iOjoHpbO
You balance the weight of your youngest brother in your arms with the weight of your family’s needs, the love you have for them making every challenge worthwhile.
Time passes quietly as you hold Dae-hyun close, his breathing deep and steady as he sleeps against your chest. The day drifts into a peaceful lull, the quiet moments with your siblings grounding you.306Please respect copyright.PENANA9rWkdbUXKN
306Please respect copyright.PENANAwLNKX1voNe
Eventually, the stillness of the afternoon is broken by the soft creak of the front door. Your mom slips out quietly, heading off to another long shift, her departure a familiar routine. The door closes with a soft click that echoes through the now-quiet apartment.306Please respect copyright.PENANA2CebNY0UOG
306Please respect copyright.PENANA5Mf9WABZJr
It’s a sound you’re all too familiar with, one that signals the start of another stretch where she’ll be at work, trying to keep everything together for the family.
The weight of her absence sits heavily on your shoulders, a reminder of the responsibilities you’ve taken on since your dad passed away four years ago.306Please respect copyright.PENANAlN9YAvaayo
306Please respect copyright.PENANALMrloq9n3E
Shin-woo: (She’s always so tired… She never complains, but I can see it. I just wish she didn’t have to work so hard.)306Please respect copyright.PENANAI2eYwAHlF2
306Please respect copyright.PENANAD0eTYifvIU
You glance around the small apartment, now eerily quiet without the usual hum of activity. It’s moments like this when you miss your mom the most—not just her presence, but the way she used to laugh more freely before everything became about surviving.306Please respect copyright.PENANADMZWudNV54
306Please respect copyright.PENANAqLhDme5Wez
Shin-woo: (I don’t want to bother her with my problems. She’s dealing with enough as it is.)306Please respect copyright.PENANA9joPScQFFQ
306Please respect copyright.PENANAfP0z6w8DoE
Your thoughts are interrupted by the familiar knock at the door. You already know who it is before you open it. Eun-ho, your childhood friend, stands there with a grin that could rival the sun.
He doesn’t need an invitation, stepping inside like he’s done a thousand times before. 306Please respect copyright.PENANAde283F5sef
306Please respect copyright.PENANASRTmGheV88
Eun-ho: Yo, you look like you’re thinking too much again. Time to knock that off.306Please respect copyright.PENANAbbYLCs7SMJ
306Please respect copyright.PENANAs0WuaYZcC3
He drops his bag by the couch, plopping down like it’s his own home. In many ways, it is. The two of you have spent countless weekends and holidays here, filling the silence with laughter and mischief. Eun-ho’s presence always has a way of lightening the atmosphere, his energy infectious.306Please respect copyright.PENANAocPTN7wn01
306Please respect copyright.PENANAlqR4Kkzo6p
You roll your eyes at his usual teasing, but there’s comfort in it, in the familiarity of his banter.306Please respect copyright.PENANAIky5xLYioJ
306Please respect copyright.PENANAI6otiVfPVs
Shin-woo: (He always knows how to distract me, even when I don’t ask for it.)306Please respect copyright.PENANAoWCPwsZyBZ
306Please respect copyright.PENANAYl28sY3UJT
You join him on the couch, and he immediately starts goofing around, poking you in the ribs until you’re both laughing like kids again. This is your escape—a brief reprieve from the worries that usually occupy your mind.
He throws an arm around your shoulders, his voice dropping into that playful tone he uses whenever he wants to get a rise out of you.306Please respect copyright.PENANAneSxfC8o5G
306Please respect copyright.PENANAqi1btXbrZi
Eun-ho: So, what’s new with your boyfriend, In-woo? Still making you run all his errands?306Please respect copyright.PENANA0BWgArGHCc
306Please respect copyright.PENANAwJiDBIbENN
You freeze for a second, shooting him a glare, but it lacks real heat. He’s the only person who knows about your complicated feelings for In-woo, and he’s never let you live it down.
But you also know it comes from a place of understanding, not judgment.306Please respect copyright.PENANAcBSMDkm1st
306Please respect copyright.PENANA1wNB0AslrV
Shin-woo: He’s not my boyfriend, and you know it.306Please respect copyright.PENANAIKNHvIy6ax
306Please respect copyright.PENANAsSyAs5PJYB
Eun-ho smirks, raising an eyebrow.306Please respect copyright.PENANAhkWq6SEjkm
306Please respect copyright.PENANAziRNN1DrS9
Eun-ho: Right, right. So, you’re just his unpaid assistant who happens to be head over heels for him?306Please respect copyright.PENANAIZweR0ZoeM
306Please respect copyright.PENANAYGOnTFfUgm
You groan, leaning back against the couch, trying to will away the flush that creeps up your neck. He’s relentless, but that’s just who Eun-ho is. He knows how to push your buttons, but it’s also his way of showing he cares.306Please respect copyright.PENANAj9685qWwN5
306Please respect copyright.PENANAXiPs1GUm2h
Shin-woo: (He’s only teasing because he knows how I really feel… and because he’s probably right.)306Please respect copyright.PENANAURsJE6pGmV
306Please respect copyright.PENANAf9EurkgKFv
The two of you settle into your usual routine—talking about everything and nothing, playing video games, and just enjoying the rare moments of peace when life doesn’t feel so heavy.
It’s these weekends that remind you you’re not alone, even when it feels like the world is on your shoulders.306Please respect copyright.PENANAcSYVypAjjY
306Please respect copyright.PENANAYRrrISybt6
As the evening draws on, Eun-ho eventually falls asleep on the couch, his arm draped over his eyes to block out the light. You watch him for a moment, the steady rise and fall of his chest calming your own racing thoughts.306Please respect copyright.PENANA2X25LECV3L
306Please respect copyright.PENANAeNTRiqVrdc
Shin-woo: (He’s always been there for me, even when I didn’t know I needed him.)306Please respect copyright.PENANAqFqg6HI4Yz
306Please respect copyright.PENANAI79lrE8GBV
You pull a blanket over him before heading to your room, the apartment now filled with the quiet sound of Eun-ho’s soft snores.
It’s not much, but these moments are enough to keep you going, to remind you that, no matter how tough things get, you’ve got someone in your corner.306Please respect copyright.PENANAdIMVucc5eW
306Please respect copyright.PENANAAfClvSZEtV
And with that thought, you let yourself relax, knowing that tomorrow will bring its own challenges, but also knowing you won’t be facing them alone.306Please respect copyright.PENANAucdRVjSpyD
306Please respect copyright.PENANA2NhKp8FBm3
[Transition]306Please respect copyright.PENANAKWihs0hHcT
306Please respect copyright.PENANAJUgQDiU6KY
It's spring, the season when the world outside bursts into color and life. As if on cue with the blooming flowers, In-woo has his own ritual.
Today, like many times before, he leads you to the old cherry blossom tree on the edge of the school grounds. The air is cool, but the sun dapples through the branches, casting playful shadows on the ground.306Please respect copyright.PENANAKVNhonhxuY
306Please respect copyright.PENANADhoLt3dgDr
In-woo stretches out beneath the tree, his back against the grass, eyes closed in a serene expression. You settle next to him, not as relaxed, your body tense as you pretend to gaze outward at the scattered petals.306Please respect copyright.PENANAoptjhduO8z
306Please respect copyright.PENANAvUiEtI6gTS
Shin-woo: (Every spring it’s the same, but I never tire of it. It’s the one time I can just look at him, really look, without fear of being caught.)306Please respect copyright.PENANAJkYevjsa3j
306Please respect copyright.PENANAPImBvSZA67
You shift slightly, turning to steal a glance at In-woo. His features are softened by the gentle sunlight, making him look almost peaceful, a stark contrast to his usual stoic demeanor.
The setting is almost too picturesque, him lying there without a care, and you sitting guard, watching over his repose. Your hair falls forward, a convenient veil that completely conceals your face from curious onlookers, allowing you to gaze at him unnoticed.306Please respect copyright.PENANAZRbKjXuu93
306Please respect copyright.PENANAlC3VXsm42a
His chest rises and falls with a rhythm that lulls you into a sense of tranquility you only find here, in these moments. Your heart beats a little faster as you allow your eyes to trace the lines of his face—the curve of his jaw, the gentle arch of his brows.306Please respect copyright.PENANATBwCEsTNYQ
306Please respect copyright.PENANACIv4pbVGXu
Shin-woo: (He’s like some character from a story, too perfect to be real. And here I am, close enough to know it’s not all just a façade.)306Please respect copyright.PENANAirAEsX5i5q
306Please respect copyright.PENANAK7jpA5to6E
Your hand inches closer to his, a subconscious desire to bridge the gap between fantasy and reality. But you stop halfway, pulling back before a touch can break the spell.306Please respect copyright.PENANAjcnfajlAyW
306Please respect copyright.PENANAozYEpdGFZK
In-woo stirs slightly, his eyelids fluttering but not opening, and you quickly avert your gaze, focusing on a random point on the ground. Your heart hammers in your chest, worried for a moment that he caught you staring.306Please respect copyright.PENANAdyuo0JGCza
306Please respect copyright.PENANAHkgjVlmV0i
Shin-woo: (One day, maybe, I’ll stop hiding this. But not today.)306Please respect copyright.PENANAQyxD7bClpB
306Please respect copyright.PENANAi8WDVdj1CN
You draw in a deep breath, the scent of cherry blossoms filling your lungs, and settle in to enjoy the tranquility of the moment, however fleeting it may be.306Please respect copyright.PENANAjicPKkCgDK
306Please respect copyright.PENANA3sKRn66SBQ
The fleeting serenity of your spring ritual with In-woo comes to an abrupt end as he springs to his feet, full of energy.
With a characteristic tug at your sleeve, he pulls you along to the next event of the day—a basketball match against a rival high school. In-woo's school has never lost to this team, thanks largely to his prowess on the court.
[Transition]306Please respect copyright.PENANA3TCSRz5fKE
306Please respect copyright.PENANA2TdDtrpZ9n
You follow him to the gym, your role during these games well-practiced. You find your usual spot in the front row, armed with a bottle of water and a towel, essentials for In-woo during his breaks.
As you settle down, you feel the weight of numerous stares. Jealous glances from both girls and boys slice through the air towards you, their envy palpable. 306Please respect copyright.PENANAyC6t9hmnWQ
306Please respect copyright.PENANAZQvrSH149G
Shin-woo: (Let them look. Let them wonder.)306Please respect copyright.PENANAacSfhhwAEX
306Please respect copyright.PENANA4bsmHfDM6a
Your lips curl into a smirk, one that doesn’t quite reach your eyes but serves its purpose. It's a small rebellion, a silent assertion of your place by his side, even if the nature of that place is misunderstood by onlookers.306Please respect copyright.PENANAGs74ilxSkZ
306Please respect copyright.PENANA4IcRQI5gdx
As the game starts, In-woo transforms. On the court, he is not the stoic, unapproachable figure you spend your days with but a dynamic, almost untouchable force.
Each movement he makes is fluid and precise, his athleticism on full display. You can’t help but be captivated. 306Please respect copyright.PENANAjn3OeXPqCF
306Please respect copyright.PENANAhQ7fBN4tRD
Shin-woo: (Look at him... so confident, so skilled. It’s hard not to admire him—harder still not to want him.)306Please respect copyright.PENANA9Qs9yAshY0
306Please respect copyright.PENANAdQgqoLR5iz
Your smile widens as he scores yet another basket, his team pulling further ahead. The crowd's cheers swell around you, a tumultuous sea of excitement and energy, but your focus remains solely on In-woo.
His shirt clings to him, damp with sweat, outlining muscles that shift and flex with every move. The sight sends a warm thrill through you.306Please respect copyright.PENANArmhPZNsfSl
306Please respect copyright.PENANA8yhP9cJIZE
Shin-woo: (He’s incredible. Not just as a player... but just him. Every time I think I’ve got my feelings under control, he does something to show me I’m far from over him.)306Please respect copyright.PENANAquMDgpIBRV
306Please respect copyright.PENANAsxsBl0w4Sf
You clutch the water bottle tighter, anticipation building with each pause in the game when you know he’ll jog over to you for a quick refresh, his face alight with the thrill of the game, eyes finding yours for that brief moment that seems to stretch and bend in the air between you.306Please respect copyright.PENANA7vx1VKvHxD
306Please respect copyright.PENANAmEUo6ukeqs
Shin-woo: (Is it just the game, or is there something more in those quick, fleeting glances?)306Please respect copyright.PENANACBW5u3uoax
306Please respect copyright.PENANAxES5kTRqpA
The whistle blows, snapping you out of your reverie, and he jogs over again, that same determined, competitive gleam in his eyes that somehow softens just a fraction when he looks at you.306Please respect copyright.PENANAv6SOpMPLuS
306Please respect copyright.PENANAOOonRtupJk
His chest heaving from exertion, you quickly stand, the towel and water bottle ready in your hands.306Please respect copyright.PENANAxBoDGnlBUR
His breathing is heavy, his gaze fixed on the towel you hold.306Please respect copyright.PENANAL2M4qDR6iH
306Please respect copyright.PENANAedX0s134p1
You hand him the towel first, watching as he wipes the sweat from his forehead and neck, his movements precise and calculated. There's an intensity to his actions, a focus that he carries from the court to even the simplest tasks.
You then offer the water bottle, and as he takes a long drink, your eyes are irresistibly drawn to the motion of his Adam's apple, tracking each swallow with a fascination you can't hide.306Please respect copyright.PENANAcSuNtq3F0e
306Please respect copyright.PENANA42iVY0HKUy
Shin-woo: (Every detail about him catches me off guard, pulls me in deeper than I want to admit.)306Please respect copyright.PENANAxxTimhRL0R
306Please respect copyright.PENANAQFJrewZPXo
A droplet of water escapes, tracing a line down from the corner of his mouth to his neck. Your gaze follows the path of the water, lingering a moment too long.
Unconsciously, your tongue flicks out, wetting your own lips as if you could taste the salty sweetness of his effort from across the air between you.306Please respect copyright.PENANAoFsn7YqHkA
306Please respect copyright.PENANA8doslY3ld8
He pauses drinking, a brow arching as he catches your stare, the corner of his mouth twitching in an unreadable expression.306Please respect copyright.PENANABhdSdn3qB0
306Please respect copyright.PENANAnPNeGUGjoS
Shin-woo: (Caught. Why do I always get caught?)306Please respect copyright.PENANAqZCI1HL8tq
306Please respect copyright.PENANAzFe58b8lYj
His look is a mix of amusement and a challenge, a silent question about what exactly you find so captivating. Flustered, you scramble mentally, looking away briefly before meeting his eyes again, an attempt to regain some composure. 306Please respect copyright.PENANAl1Aqb1QKTe
306Please respect copyright.PENANABKDrwJ3kjT
Shin-woo: (Focus. He’s just a guy. Just a guy who happens to throw my world off its axis every time he looks at me.)306Please respect copyright.PENANA1faD0rALW5
306Please respect copyright.PENANAWkpJVB8WEJ
As he finishes drinking and hands back the bottle, the moment stretches taut between you. There’s an acknowledgment in his glance, a recognition of the unspoken tension that always seems to dance just on the edge of your interactions.306Please respect copyright.PENANAev4OEPiWWc
306Please respect copyright.PENANA8KhkvfgKIc
Shin-woo: (What does he think in these moments? Does he see me... really see me?) 306Please respect copyright.PENANAaRKthU5CJf
306Please respect copyright.PENANAHtDITQmNfX
He returns to the game without another word, leaving you to ponder the brief encounter, your heart pounding a little too loudly in your chest.306Please respect copyright.PENANAnFbInOWmuK
306Please respect copyright.PENANAwVFzIOsniE
The game resumes with its usual fervor, the crowd’s energy palpable as the players dart back and forth across the court. You watch, half-lost in the ebb and flow of the match, your nerves tight each time In-woo handles the ball.306Please respect copyright.PENANAbWjYscUvxp
306Please respect copyright.PENANAqfmq9tjnt6
Shin-woo: (Just another game, just another win, hopefully.)306Please respect copyright.PENANAXpg8RtFLDk
306Please respect copyright.PENANA7msl7SP2ul
Your focus sharpens as Dylan, a notorious rival from the opposing team, enters into a direct contest with In-woo.
You know Dylan by reputation and unfortunate personal experience; he's the type who bristles at being overlooked, and his interactions with you have been uncomfortably forward, always trying to catch your eye with a wink or a smirk during games.306Please respect copyright.PENANAdqEr7Hkncm
306Please respect copyright.PENANAHk7CDICgB8
Shin-woo: (Why can’t he just play the game without making it personal?)306Please respect copyright.PENANAKx2GCwIohS
306Please respect copyright.PENANAunD7plUSar
Today, Dylan's antagonism is more palpable than ever. His taunts seem louder, aimed not just to unnerve In-woo but to draw a reaction from you as well.
However, In-woo, ever the stoic, ignores him, focused solely on the game. This only seems to infuriate Dylan further.306Please respect copyright.PENANAaH1a5joLAI
306Please respect copyright.PENANAbl4QYxCixK
As the tension on the court builds, a sudden movement catches your eye—a deliberate, aggressive shove from Dylan. In-woo, caught off-guard, stumbles backward, his balance lost.
The world seems to slow down as In-woo's head makes a sickening thud against the metal basketball post. He crumples to the floor, motionless.306Please respect copyright.PENANA9GTgZ7wcRL
306Please respect copyright.PENANAo2TdqrJGZq
Shin-woo: (No, no, no... this can’t be happening.)